Malawi: 27 Fired MBC Reporters Demand K688.5m Payout After Shock Dismissals

What the report says

Twenty-seven district reporters formerly employed by the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation have filed a claim at the Industrial Relations Court in Zomba, seeking K688.5 million in compensation and damages after their dismissal. The case, reported by Nyasa Times and distributed by AllAfrica, centers on the workers’ argument that they were hired on three-year contracts starting April 1, 2025, and that MBC could not lawfully end the agreements early simply because election coverage was complete.

According to the article, the reporters say they were terminated by email on May 28. Their lawyer, Dominic Makawa, is quoted in the report as disputing MBC’s explanation that the hires were for a specific task tied to the 2025 general election. The claim includes K148.5 million in unpaid remaining salaries and K540 million in damages, based on monthly pay of K250,000 and 22 months left on the contracts. The reporters also say reinstatement is no longer practical.

The report adds that another 16 journalists were dismissed in July, with termination letters citing unsatisfactory performance during probation. MBC spokesperson Chisomo Mwamadi declined to comment, saying the corporation was in mourning after the death of Director General Brian Banda. The dispute highlights broader questions about fixed-term contracts, termination rights and working conditions in Malawi’s media sector.